Herpetology - Bonn

Amphibians & Reptiles

The Herpetology Section specialises in amphibians and reptiles from all over the world, but mainly from Europe, Africa, South America, the Middle East and South-East Asia.

Research focuses on taxonomy, diversity, auto-/synoecology, macro-ecology, species conservation, biogeography, species distribution modelling, evolution and phylogenetics.

The constantly growing scientific collection, which currently comprises > 110,000 specimens, is curated by PD Dr Dennis Rödder and Dr Claudia Koch.

Both curators are involved in university teaching and offer seminars, block modules, and excursions for the BSc Biology and OEP MSc degree programmes at the University of Bonn. Final theses (Bachelor/Master) and PhD theses are also supervised.

Innovative methods in morphology, taxonomy, and systematics

Every year, several hundred new amphibian and reptile species are described worldwide. The LIB makes an important contribution to this; since its foundation, type material of more than 700 taxa has been deposited in our section, including over 350 primary types (i.e. holo-, lecto-, and neotypes) and almost 100 syntypes. To identify new species, we use state-of-the-art molecular biology techniques (genetics, genomics, phylogenetics) as well as computer-aided imaging techniques such as µCT-based 3D reconstructions.

Computer-aided analyses in biogeography, evolutionary ecology, and conservation research

We investigate the effects of climate and land-use changes on different time scales, from currently observable distribution shifts and rather short-term distribution dynamics of (invasive) species (several years to decades) to evolutionary adaptations during speciation (several million years). Amphibians and reptiles are particularly suitable for this purpose, as they are highly dependent on environmental factors. Special attention has always been paid to the search for causal ecological mechanisms that determine distribution and abundance patterns in relation to environmental factors. We use the knowledge gained to make forecasts for the future and to become involved in international nature conservation.

Teaching programmes

Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn
Supervision of project work and theses

Bachelor Biology OEP Biology Master PhD programme

OEP-A23 Advanced Bioinformatics in Phylogenetics, Evolutionary Biology and Biodiversity research:
- Introduction to Scientific Programming in R (seminar/exercise)
- Introduction to GIS / species distribution modelling (seminar/exercise)
OEP-B30 Advanced Course in Combining Field and Lab Techniques and Methods in Organismic Biology, Evolutionary Biology or Paleobiology
OEP-C02 / WBIO-F-02: Zoogeography and ecology of marine organisms in tropical habitats (with an excursion to the Red Sea, Dahab/Egypt) (Seminar/Excursion)
OEP-C07 Biodiversity of the Tropics, with a Field Trip to Ecuador (Seminar/Excursion)
OEP-B16 Evolution, and Biodiversity of Lower Vertebrates (block course)
OEP-B19 Patterns and Processes Shaping Biodiversity (Seminar)
WBIO-E-01 Free practical courses for BSc Biology

Related collections

Herpetological Collection, Museum Koenig Bonn

Dr. Claudia Koch

Curator Herpetology
Radiation Protection Officer

Phone: +49 228 9122 234
E-Mail: c.koch@leibniz-lib.de

PD Dr. Dennis Rödder

Head of Section Herpetology

Phone: +49 228 9122 252
E-Mail: d.roedder@leibniz-lib.de

["English"] WCH10 — International networking: Members of Herpetology Bonn at the 10th World Congress of Herpetology in Borneo

["English"] Digitales Museum — We use big data and analyze evolutionary and biogeographical patterns

["English"] Polychrus peruvianus — Peruvian Bush Anole (Polychrus peruvianus)

["English"] Epictia antoniogarciai — The blind snake species Epictia antoniogarciai was discovered in 2015 in Cajamarca, Peru by researchers from the Museum Koenig

["English"] Liotyphlops beui — µCT scan of the head of a blind snake (Liotyphlops beui)

Projects

All projects

Mapping the Decline: Elucidate the Diversity of Threatened Brazilian Amphibians
Management: PD Dr. Dennis Rödder
DD-GAP: Evaluation of knowlege gaps for developing One Plan Approach strategies and solutions
Management: PD Dr. Dennis Rödder
Evolution of the gecko's adhesive toes
Management: PD Dr. Dennis Rödder
Provenance research at the Museum Koenig
Management: Dr. André Koch

Publications

Complete list of publications since 2011

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2026

2026/01
Bañeras, T., Jiménez-Alvarado, D., Meyers, E.K.M., Toledo-Padilla, H., Hardisson, A., Gonzalez-Weller, D., Barker, J., Mead, L.R., Espino-Ruano, A., Castro-Alonso, A., José-Caballero, M., Gutiérrez, Á.
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Characterization of metal contaminants in the Critically Endangered angelshark (Squatina squatina): A first ecotoxicological insight
Marine Pollution Bulletin, 222

2025

2025/11
Ribeiro-Junior, M.A., Koch, C., Flecks, M., Campbell, P.D., Calvo, M., Spawls, S., Vidal, N., Meiri, S.
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What is revealed from a widely distributed species in Africa and Southwest Asia? The case of the Telescopus dhara–obtusus species complex (Squamata: Colubridae)
Zoological journal of the Linnean Society, 3, 205
2025/11
Kaiser, H.
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Comments on the retraction of an article by Faiz et al. (2017) on the putative occurrence of a King Cobra, Ophiophagus hannah (Cantor, 1836), in Pakistan
Herpetology Notes, 18
2025/11
Al-Sheikhly, O.F., Böhme, W., Abdulzahra, H.K.
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Die Seeschlange Hydrophis lapemoides (Gray, 1849) (Serpentes: Elapidae: Hydrophiinae): erster dokumentierter Nachweis aus irakischen Küstengewässern / The Arabian Gulf Sea Snake Hydrophis lapemoides (Gray, 1849) (Serpentes: Elapidae: Hydrophiinae): first documented record from Iraqi marine waters
SAURIA – Zeitschrift für Terraristik & Herpetologie, 3, 47
2025/11
Böhme, W.
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Neobiota in unserer Umwelt
2025/11
Miguel, A.R., Sitole, B.I., Calonga, N.A.M., Duarte, C.H., Armando, D., Nanvonamuquitxo, C.J.A., Kaiser, H.
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Beyond the asymptote: a near-complete reptile inventory in the Miombo woodland and on Mount Morué, Mocuba Municipality, with a major range extension for the lizard Nucras boulengeri Neumann, 1900
Herpetology Notes, 18
2025/10
Bhusal, D.R., Kharel (Sitaula), R., Shrestha, B.R., Baral, S., Pandey, B., Pathak, P., Kumar, B., Karki, P., Joshi, S.N., Sharma, A.K., Upadhya, M.P.
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Landscape Heterogeneity and Changing Bioclimatic Parameters Link to Potential Expansion of Gazalina chrysolopha (Lepidoptera; Notodontidae) in Nepal: A Possible Bioagent for Seasonal Hyperacute Panuveitis (SHAPU) in South Asia
Ecology and Evolution, 10, 15
2025/10
Kukla, Y., Riedel, J., Rödder, D.
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Sticky Innovation, Limited Expansion: Biogeography and Evolutionary Ecology of Toepads in Geckos
Journal of Biogeography
2025/10
Böhme, W., Denzer, W., Wüster, W.
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Noli tangere nomina probata! Taxonomists must prioritise stability and protection of well-established scientific names in herpetology
Salamandra, 4, 61
2025/10
Ginal, P., Hackenbroch, H., Le Manh, H., Nguyen, T.Q., Le, M.D., Rödder, D., Ziegler, T.
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Assessment of the threat status of bird species from Vietnam – Implementation of the One Plan Approach to conservation
Nature Conservation, 60
2025/09
Denzer, W., Dondorp, E., Kaiser, H., Wüster, W.
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Notes on the type series of the Javan Spitting Cobra, Naja sputatrix Boie, 1827, and designation of a lectotype for Naja tripudians sondaica Schlegel, 1844
Zootaxa, 4, 5679
2025/09
Pillai, R.R., Riedel, J., Wirth, W., Allen-Ankins, S., Nordberg, E., Edwards, W., Schwarzkopf, L.
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What’s the point? The functional role of claws in pad-bearing taxa (Gekkota: Diplodactylidae)
Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 2054, 292
2025/09
Rösler, H., Böhme, W.
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Friedrich Wilhelm Christophel (1913 – 1985) – Buchhändler, Schriftsteller und sein Beitrag zur Phelsumenkunde als Terrarianer
2025/09
Wüster, W., Böhme, W., Denzer, W., Kaiser, H.
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Nomenclatural historians are kindly requested to respect the intent of the Code: “Nomenclatural parsimony” and the case of the Nose-horned Viper, Vipera
Zootaxa, 5696
2025/08
Denzer, W., Böhme, W., Köhler, J.
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Availability of nomenclatural acts published in the journal Salamandra: a response
Salamandra, 3, 61
2025/08
Lasota, M.J., Thi Ngo, H., Pham, C.T., Nguyen, T.Q., Le, M.D., Rödder, D., Ziegler, T.
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Assessment of the Threat Status of Bent‐Toed Geckos (Cyrtodactylus) in Indochina: Implementation of the One Plan Approach
Integrative Conservation
2025/08
Kaiser, H., O’Shea, M., Koppetsch, T., Bernstein, J.M.
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A tale of a wiggly tail: first osteological examination of the kinked-tail phenomenon in a wild-caught skink, Sphenomorphus melanopogon (Duméril & Bibron, 1839), from Timor-Leste
Herpetology Notes, 18
2025/08
Böhme, W.
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Societatis Europeae Herpetologicae brevis historia
2025/07
Rai, T.P., Kaiser, C., Kaiser, H.
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Amplexus between frogs in different families: a microhylid Nilphamarai Narrow-mouthed Frog, Microhyla nilphamariensis Howlader et al., 2015, grasps a Terai Cricket Frog, Minervarya teraiensis (Dubois, 1984), in Nepal
Herpetology Notes, 18
2025/07
Böhme, W., Koppetsch, T., Gabelaia, M., Wipfler, B.
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Fakultatives Eierlegen bei lebendgebärenden Waldeidechsenweibchen, Zootoca vivipara (Lichtenstein, 1823) (Squamata: Lacertidae), in der Kleinen Ungarischen Tiefebene
SAURIA – Zeitschrift für Terraristik & Herpetologie, 2, 47
2025/07
Abrha, A.M., Rödder, D., Gedeon, K., Podsiadlowski, L., Töpfer, T.
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Evaluating the impact of climate change on mountaintop endemic bird species in the Ethiopian highlands: insights from moorland francolin (Scleroptila psilolaema)
Ornithology Research, 1, 33
2025/07
Miguel, A.R., Kaiser, H., Vargas, N.D., Borges-Martins, M.
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Assessing amphibian richness in coastal habitats of Gilé National Park, northern Mozambique, with a key to species identification
Herpetology Notes, 18
2025/07
Böhme, W.
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Krokodile, die nächsten lebenden Verwandten der Vögel
Koenigiana, 19
2025/07
Ullenbruch Jr., K., Böhme, W.
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Eine Rettungsmission per Kleinbus in die algerische Sahara – mit dem VW-Bus des Museum Koenig unterwegs in Nordafrika
Koenigiana, 19
2025/07
Mead, L.R., Piper, A., Alvarado, D.J., Meyers, E., Barker, J., Toledo-Padilla, H., Herraiz, E., Campoamor, A.F., Sealey, M., Caro, M.B., Bañeras, T., Pike, C., Gollock, M., Ravina-Olivares, F., Jacoby, D.M.P.
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Rapid Ocean Warming Drives Sexually Divergent Habitat Use in a Threatened Predatory Marine Ectotherm
Global Change Biology, 2025; 31:e70331
2025/07
De La Quintana, P., Solé, M.
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Oxyrhopus in Bahia, Brazil: Pholidosis, maturity, sexual dimorphism, and reproduction
Acta Herpetologica, 21
2025/07
Sperling, K., Isselhard, H., Ziegler, T., Rödder, D.
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Amphibians and Reptiles of Ethiopia—Biogeography, Conservation Priority Areas, and Potentials for “One Plan Approach” Conservation Measures
Integrative Conservation
2025/06
López-Rojas, J.J., Solé, M., Lourenço-de-Moraes, R.
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Patterns of endemism and beta diversity in amphibians and reptiles of the Amazon Basin: effects of habitat heterogeneity and anthropic impact
Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2, 145
2025/06
Izaguirres Souza, L., de Jesus Braga, C.V., Roseno, R.S., Diele-Viegas, L.M., Solé, M.
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Bright marks, dark fate: records of predation on Coleodactylus meridionalis Boulenger, 1888 from a movement ecology study in a forest area in southern Bahia, Brazil
Herpetology Notes, 18
2025/06
Al-Sheikhly, O.F., Ahmed, S.H., Ararat, K., Abdulzahra, H.K., Böhme, W., Jablonski, D.
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First documented record of Pseudocerastes persicus (Duméril, Bibron & Duméril, 1854) (Squamata, Viperidae) from Iraq
Check List, 3, 21

Employees

All employees

Dr. Mark Auliya
ztm Herpetology Bonn Scientist
E-mail: m.auliya@leibniz-lib.de
Suraj Baral
ztm Herpetology Bonn Doctoral candidate
E-mail: s.baral@leibniz-lib.de
Ursula Bott
ztm Herpetology Bonn
Phone: +49 228 9122 249
E-mail: u.bott@leibniz-lib.de
Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Böhme
ztm Herpetology Bonn Scientist, guest
Phone: +49 228 9122 250
E-mail: w.boehme@leibniz-lib.de
Michele Chiacchio
ztm Herpetology Bonn Doctoral candidate
E-mail: m.chiacchio@leibniz-lib.de
Dipl. Biol. Morris Flecks
ztm Herpetology Bonn
Phone: +49 228 9122 254
E-mail: m.flecks@leibniz-lib.de
Dr. Rafaela França
ztm Herpetology Bonn Postdoctoral researcher
Phone: +49 228 9122 253
E-mail: r.franca@leibniz-lib.de
Dipl. Biol. Timo Hartmann
ztm Animal husbandry Herpetology Bonn Animal keeper
Phone: +49 228 9122 274
E-mail: t.hartmann@leibniz-lib.de
Dr. Sylvia Hofmann
ztm Herpetology Bonn Scientist
Phone: +49 228 9122 253
E-mail: s.hofmann@leibniz-lib.de
Prof. Dr. Hinrich Kaiser
ztm Herpetology Bonn Scientist, guest
E-mail: h.kaiser@leibniz-lib.de
Dr. Claudia Koch
ztm Herpetology Bonn Scientist
Phone: +49 228 9122 234
E-mail: c.koch@leibniz-lib.de
Paul Kornacker
ztm Herpetology Bonn Volunteer employee
E-mail: p.kornacker@leibniz-lib.de
Dr. Markus Lambertz
ztm Herpetology Bonn Postdoctoral researcher
E-mail: m.lambertz@leibniz-lib.de
Eva Meyers
ztm Herpetology Bonn Doctoral candidate
E-mail: e.meyers@leibniz-lib.de
Dikansh S. Parmar
ztm Herpetology Bonn Doctoral candidate
E-mail: d.parmar@leibniz-lib.de
Inna Rech
ztm Animal husbandry Herpetology Bonn Doctoral candidate
Phone: +49 228 9122 253
E-mail: i.rech@leibniz-lib.de
Dr. Jendrian Riedel
ztm Herpetology Bonn Postdoctoral researcher
E-mail: j.riedel@leibniz-lib.de
PD Dr. Dennis Rödder
ztm Herpetology Bonn Scientist
Phone: +49 228 9122 252
E-mail: d.roedder@leibniz-lib.de
Prof. Dr. Mirco Solé
ztm Herpetology Bonn Scientist, guest
E-mail: mksole@uesc.br